Imagine you’re at a restaurant with your friend. She pays the check, and says you can pay her back. Do you:

a) write an IOU on a napkin?

b) pull out a wad of cash and give her exact change?

c) take out your phone and pay her through a mobile payment app?

If you answered c), this post is for you.

Like apps that let you pay at stores with your phone, “peer-to-peer” payment services can be a convenient way to pay friends. But before you use one — or use one again — check the app’s settings for available security features. Continue Reading >

by Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help investors protect their online brokerage accounts from fraud. As with all web-based accounts, investors should take precautions to help ensure that their online brokerage accounts remain secure. These online security tips can help. Continue Reading >

To celebrate National Consumer Protection Week this year, the Cleveland Consumer Action Network (CCAN) is challenging students from several Northeast Ohio universities and colleges to film the most creative and informative videos that highlight one of several consumer issues and help their peers spot, stop, and avoid scams. Continue Reading >

The Federal Communications Commission this year launched a new Consumer Help Center to improve its process for engaging and informing consumers, helping you better protect yourself when you experience problems with communications technologies and services and helping us better serve you when you have a complaint Continue Reading >

Thinking about using a company, product, or service based on online reviews? You’re probably interested in getting the best service – and price – for your money. You might have read what other customers have written to help with your decision. But can you always trust those online reviews? Just how credible are they? Continue Reading >

Who knows where you are right now? The apps on your smartphone might — even if you’re not using them.

You might find this helpful — for example, a map app that tracks your location in the background may give you directions more quickly. Or a shopping app could send you a message about a sale at a store close by. Other apps might collect and share your location information with advertisers, which then send you targeted ads. Continue Reading >